Calling all working parents of 3 and 4 year olds!

30 hours of funded early education for 3 & 4 year olds

Working parents who meet the earnings criteria could be entitled to an additional 15 hours of early education, making up a total of up to 30 hours per week (over 38 weeks, or 1140 hours across the year).

Find out if you are eligible for the extra 15 hours of early education and apply online at the HMRC website: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

‘Childcare Choices’ also offers a ‘Childcare Calculator’ where parents can check what help you might be able to get with childcare schemes like tax credits, Tax-Free Childcare, childcare vouchers and funded childcare or education for 2 to 4 year olds.

This weeks tip- Online GamesWhen your children create a new username for an online game make sure that the username does not give away key information about their true identity. Think about using a nickname or a name of a favourite TV character

Use the privacy and security settings on social media sites so that only friends and family can see your pages. Then speak to friends and family and encourage them to tighten their privacy settings too as they could affect you. Even if your account is locked as private, personal information you have shared with others could still be accessed through their pages.Got a nickname?

Think about using a nickname instead of your real name if you’re signing up to a microblogging site like Twitter. Consider setting up a separate, personal email account to use with social media sites, rather than using your work, or even your main personal email. Remember, only connect to people you know.Personal InformationThink about what personal information you give out online. For example you could you use a nickname instead of your real name.
PasswordsMake sure your passwords use upper case and lower case letters and that they include a number. Update them regularly and have different passwords for different accounts.

Parental Controls
See what parental controls are available for the different electronic devices that your children use. Most devices allow you to limit content available on the device by clicking on one option under the devices main settings.

“Chat” with your kids
Develop an open dialogue so that you can talk with your children about the benefits and dangers of the Internet. Cultivate an interest in their online activities—their favourite Web sites, online games, and interests. And don’t be afraid to ask your children who they are talking to online and what they are talking about.

Did you know that children are far more likely to succeed academically when they attend school consistently?Let’s give them the best possible start.

We want all our children to have the best possible attendance to enable each and every child to achieve their full potential.

Parents and carers have a duty to ensure their child has a suitable education by regular attendance at school. Parental support is critical in ensuring that children achieve in education and Ofsted expect a minimum of 95% attendance for each child. Just 10 days absence from school will cause your child’s attendance to drop below this level. Our attendance target at Veritas Primary Academy for each child is 96% and we strive to encourage this at every opportunity.

All children get ill. We understand that the occasional absence for illness may be necessary. However encouraging regular attendance is one of the most powerful ways both you as a parent, and we as a school, can prepare your child for success. Some absences we simply cannot authorise. The Government changed legislation in 2013 and schools are no longer allowed, by law, to approve time off for holidays. Only exceptional circumstances can be authorised – this may include family bereavement or religious observance etc.

Veritas monitors children’s attendance on a weekly basis. Where we have concerns you will be notified in writing. For example, if you child’s attendance falls below the recommended minimum we will make first contact with you to inform you of our concerns and to offer guidance and support. If regular absence persist we will ask you to attend a meeting in school to discuss this in more detail. If these measures do not help to improve your child’s attendance we may deem it necessary to refer the case to the Education Welfare Service to issue a fine.

More details on our absence procedures and attendance policy can be found here.

What’s On In Our Community?See What’s On In Our Local Area! We publish regular updates and links to activities in and around Stafford

Aiming High Activity Guide

Aiming High activities & support, subject to the type of activity/support, are typically open to:¨ 0-17 year olds with a Special Educational need and/or Disability (SEND), who ordinarily live in Staffordshire and need extra
help to take part in activities.¨ 18-25 year olds with a Special Educational need and/or Disability (SEND) who live in Staffordshire and need extra help to take part in our activities if they:
– have a SEN Statement/EHCP/Section 139a or Personal Plan
– are NOT eligible to receive paid care and support services from Adult Social Care (e.g. SSOTP or independent Futures)
-Please note, young people aged 19-25 years old can only access 1:1 Lifeskills & Independence Support
Some activities & support are designed to meet specific needs or are for children and young people living in specific areas.
Siblings can attend some activities.
Some providers need to do an assessment before the activity or support starts (this could be a home visit or over the phone).
Providers will always try to do this assessment before the activity or support starts, however this might not always be possible.
Without an assessment a child or young person might not be able to access the activity or support.https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/health/childrenandfamilycare/childrenwithdisabilities/aimhigh/Activity-guide/Aiming-High-Activity-Guide-March-2018.pdf

Admissions

In 2017 30 school children can be admitted each academic year except in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. We continue to grow year on year towards two form entry and so by 2021 all year groups will have 2 classes per year (420 school capacity). Details of the Admissions Policy is available below and also from Veritas Primary Academy office. In accordance with the Academy’s policy, priority is given to looked after and previously looked after children, followed by those children who have older siblings at the school. Priority is then given in order of distance from the school measured in a straightline. Prospective parents are offered a visiting day in the term prior to the school year in which a pupil starts full time education.

If you require any further information or advice, please contact the school office.

Normal Point of Entry
All applications for Reception places are made through Staffordshire County Council who apply our admissions criteria to all applications and notify parents directly of allocated places. Online applications are now the preferred method of making a preference for schools at the normal age of entry. Last year, around 92% of applications for Secondary and Primary School applications were made online. Parents who apply online are able to receive email notification of their school place on the national offer day, rather than through the post.

Mid Year Admissions
School tours are available by appointment with the school office. This will be an opportunity for you to take a tour of the school and meet with a member of the Senior Leadership Team to ask any questions you might have regarding your child’s education. We have a designated time slot for staff to be available for tours on Tuesday mornings so we try to arrange visits during this period where possible. A Mid Year Transfer form will need to be signed by your child’s current school and returned to Veritas Primary Academy before a place will be offered. More information and the form can be found on the Staffordshire County Council website;

Following receipt of the completed Mid Year Transfer form and school visit, a member of our office team will talk through any additional admissions paperwork needing to be completed before your child’s start date.